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    Congress Bar

    4.2 (94 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Congress Bar Photos

    Business Info

    CONGRESS BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Casual
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Congress Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Rosemary's Stepdaughter
    Andrea R.

    I've been meaning to try this place for so long, and I finally did! This is the classic neighborhood bar. Small and intimate, intriguing wallpaper, locals who look like regulars. The drinks were fairly priced and tasty, and the bartender was very sweet. The service here is excellent; the waitress was very attentive. There is a good amount of seating at the bar, as well as a few tables in the back. There's also a smaller, more private section with a handful of tables off to the side. If you're not from the neighborhood, Congress Bar is near the F/G line and surrounded by excellent restaurants if you're looking to grab some food beforehand. This place looks like it's made for regulars, which I'm hoping to become! Definitely try this one out!

    Connie H.

    This is a cute little neighborhood bar! I've passed it so many times and finally had the pleasure of coming twice in the past week. Loves: + Good selection of cocktails and beers + Nice vibe, not divey and not overly fancy + Spacious outdoor dining that is good for groups + Indoor dining has the long bar but also another small back room near the restroom + Seems ideal for first dates (not to eavesdrop but ya know) The one thing I'd note is they don't have food outside of chips and oysters (for weekend pop-ups), so definitely eat before or after before coming here. P.S. Their aperol spritz includes vodka. Drink wisely ;)

    Priscilla S.

    This small bar seems to be a popular spot in the neighborhood with ample outdoor seating. The bartender greeted us as soon as we entered and was attentive to everyone waiting to order drinks. Despite the small crowd, she was fully aware of who was waiting and who was there first. We ordered margaritas that were surprisingly strong and potato chips. I'm not sure if they offer food, but we didn't ask since we had already had brunch.

    Queen Bee and Jack & Coke.
    Cindy Z.

    This is a trendy local bar that always brings a crowd of people grabbing a drink. We decided to stop by after dinner on a weeknight. I ordered the Queen Bee ($17), which is essentially a whiskey sour. The lemon flavor was a bit too tart for me that I couldn't finish my drink. There is a small back room, which we sat since the bar was filled up. It's a decent spot to grab a drink, but nothing too particular.

    halloween decor

    popular brooklyn cocktail bar. super cute. chill polished comfortable vibes. drinks were great. service/people attentive/v nice. def recommend.

    two people sitting at the bar
    Elizabeth E.

    This is such a lovely Brooklyn bar. They don't serve food but they have food pop ups weekly. They also welcome outside food when not hosting a pop up. A nice cocktail menu, selection of wine, & beer. Their outdoor seating area is simple and comfortable! Lovely bartenders too. Definitely recommended!

    Run wild, non-alcoholic beer
    Shane N.

    Definitely a cool spot, I went for a friends bday. The music wasn't too loud, the atmosphere was chill, but not boring. There isn't food, but the drinks made up for it. It did get crow early and was hot/humid being it's January. But overall I will visit again, if I'm in Brooklyn

    Bar
    Shaji K.

    Trendy cocktail bar in the neighborhood with seating along the bar, as well as around the back for a more intimate setting. Saturday afternoon, lucked into a couple seats at the bar. Tried the Maple Retox ($14) first - an interesting punch of maple and bourbon, strong throughput with just a hint of sweetness. Also had the Fig Old Fashioned ($15) - a more balanced drink, though not as strong of a flavor in regards to the fig. Not much in regards to food (some snacks), though I don't think they're against outside items. Good relaxing spot to hang out, with bartenders who know their stuff.

    Mezcal Paloma to go
    Peter D.

    I've been quarantined upstate for the past two months in a home formerly occupied by a grandmother. As such, the only alcohol available was a combination of what she drank herself (anisette and some sort of cherry liqueur) and truly awful booze that was purchased some 20 years ago by someone else, and left there because no one wanted it (Black Velvet whiskey, Early Times bourbon, some gin I didn't recognize) and Courvoisier. (The latter really grew on me, and I was sad when I finished the bottle.) Even if that HADN'T been my only experience with alcohol for the past couple months, believe me when I tell you that the Mezcal Paloma that Congress Bar is offering to go right now is the tastiest treat I've ever tasted. And can I just say how much I love being able to walk around Cobble Hill while sipping this delicious beverage? Silver linings, my friends.

    two cocktails on a table
    Aleksandra E.

    My husband went to this bar a couple of times. This time he introduced me to this place--a great bar with a very knowledgeable bartender. You name him liquor and a flavor bouquet, and you got yourself the best drink ever! Coming back for more )

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    10 years ago

    Nice little place for cocktails, dim lighting and intimate setting.

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    11 years ago

    Jesse was an AMAZING bartender. Full of knowledge on drinks and full of personality. A highlight in our day to Brooklyn!

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    11 years ago

    good cocktails and a decent beer selection. worth stopping in after dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area.

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Congress Bar

    Is there happy hour?

    Yes. $2 off cocktails and beers until 7.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Congress Bar

    The bartenders are on point as well as personable and interesting , specifically Amanda & Rocco.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Honeycomb Hi-Fi Lounge - Stormbringer

    Honeycomb Hi-Fi Lounge

    3.7(42 reviews)
    0.9 miPark Slope

    It's clear this place takes inspiration from Japanese vinyl listening bars, from their menu of…read morehighballs to their vinyl collection and attention to the audio experience. I've made it a point to visit every vinyl listening bar that I learn of in town, after enjoying the shared experience of someone curating a select vinyl list in intimate spaces in Tokyo. Few have been able to replicate the experience, but Honeycomb Hi Fi Lounge comes close. That the space is narrow with just a few seats along the bar and a few tables mimics the Japanese experience best, where you can almost have it so the whole room is having one conversation together. The music is the focus. The cocktail menu is rather simple, and my Stormbringer drink, with dark rum and ginger beer was not anything to write home about, but $15 is pretty low for cocktails these days so I'll take it. If they introduced new cocktails to the menu with more interesting ingredients I'd be more inclined to return, but the vibes overall are pretty good and the staff really nice.

    Was brought here by a dear friend, a neighborhood regular…read more The cocktail was amazing, selection very diverse- many hard-to-find liquors, etc. Bartender was incredibly knowledgable and attentive. My friend and I each order a cocktail, and are catching up. I'm from Brooklyn, however I no longer live here, and this was precious catch-up time with my friend. Then I get interrupted mid-sentence by the old-timer DJ from his low seat in a corner behind the bar. I had bumped the bar with my wrist (bumped my wrist watch as well, not deliberately) and then placed my hand down (granted- more than placed but definitely not slammed), and he decided to warn me that I COULD HAVE made his record skip. It was the Eagles or Santana (far from eclectic, but that's just me). I'm also 99% certain he turned the volume up afterwards, making it even harder to enjoy the company. After that interaction, I struggled to pick it back up with my friend, because I found that distraction very effing rude. When this "4th wall" gets broken down with service, it is hard to then enjoy the space in an uninhibited state. I am all for the Tokyo Vinyl Bar vibe, and I'm also for also giving talent an outlet to share their collection, but this interaction colored my experience, and I closed out after one drink and went elsewhere. I mentioned this to the bartender, and he was kind to offer a buy-back of a rare whiskey, which I did accept. 5 stars for the bartender, but 1 for my experience. I don't like to be harsh or unnecessarily cruel, but this is what it is. I have visited in the past and enjoyed myself. Nonetheless, I certainly won't be coming back.

    Photos
    Honeycomb Hi-Fi Lounge - View from the corner of the bar

    View from the corner of the bar

    Honeycomb Hi-Fi Lounge - Bar

    Bar

    Honeycomb Hi-Fi Lounge - Very attractive bar. You can see the speakers up above.

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    Very attractive bar. You can see the speakers up above.

    Sunken Harbor Club - Shallows drinks

    Sunken Harbor Club

    4.5(115 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown Brooklyn
    $$$

    I've been trying to go to Sunken Harbor for over a year now. I don't know how it's possible but…read moredespite being local it always seems to have a private event whenever we have plans to go. The stars finally aligned this winter and I had the opportunity to try it out. The vibes are perfect. Fog and bubbles, sea noises and all of the art go together seemlessly. Drinks were great. We had three and left suitably sloshed for the night with no aftereffects. We didn't have too many bites but the food was very good for a bar. I'm excited to go back and I hope we have just as much luck getting in next time.

    This is a "speakeasy" above Gage and Tollner. An undersea Tiki style adventure with a sexy mermaid…read moreheading up the bar. Nautical theme throughout with weathered leather, ropes, fish. Cocktails are made with various types of rum and ingredients like grapefruit, maraschino, wormwood amaro, falernum, thyme, Assam tea, spiced lime, allspice, coconut, cucumber, nutmeg, sour orange. All the drinks keep with the tropical, fruity taste with a hint of spice. They are also broken up into categories (dry land = no alcohol, shallows = average amount of alcohol, and abyss (larger amounts of alcohol). The abyss section has some cocktails that are limited to two per customer. They have some bar bites like fried green tomatoes, shrimp toast, broiled oysters, ricotta, dumplings, sliders. I had the French fries with kimchi ranch, which were underwhelming. Bartenders were cool and kept the drinks coming. I got in immediately without an issue or a wait, but it was right after a snowstorm. I've seen some people struggle to get in or have a long wait.

    Photos
    Sunken Harbor Club - View of the bar

    View of the bar

    Sunken Harbor Club - Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi

    Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi

    Sunken Harbor Club - Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

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    Sweet Polly

    Sweet Polly

    4.2(219 reviews)
    1.1 miProspect Heights
    $$

    What a friggin VIBE. Maybe I need to get out more but we were in the area for a show at Barclays…read moreand I looked up where to go afterwards on a few different platforms, and sweet Polly sounded like my vibe. It's this almost speak easy vibe behind big dark doors, you enter into a quaint space with small cocktail tables for seating and bar room. The cocktails were simply outrageous. Crafted to perfection with potion bottles used as finishers (yes potion bottles for their perfect witch craft making bartenders!) I think I enjoyed the bartenders work ethics as a concept the most. Sure the place was hitting the nail on the head for any speak easy, specialty cocktail seeking person's dream. But the fact that the bartenders were straight ripping through putting out eclectic drinks, with a smile on their face that was genuine was most impressive. I want to go back not just because I'm in the area. I'll go out of my way for this one. Nice job Sweet Polly!

    What a beautiful space! This spot is very well decorated and the staff is super friendly. We just…read morepopped in for some quick drinks but tried the nut mix which was delicious. I got an amaretto sour which is my usual, and they went very traditional and even did some cute hearts on top! Fabulous! My only complaint was that for the place not being busy at the time, it really took way too long for things to come out. 15-20+ minutes for drinks. They do offer water which was nice.

    Photos
    Sweet Polly
    Sweet Polly - Manhattan x Tongue of God

    Manhattan x Tongue of God

    Sweet Polly

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    Barely Disfigured - Charcuterie

    Barely Disfigured

    4.5(182 reviews)
    0.3 miCobble Hill, Gowanus
    $$

    This bar has a very fun fun concept- a bar turned from a former brothel. The motif on the door is a…read moreplay on the 'this is not a pipe' work, which really added to the vibe I was expecting. Unfortunately this place fell very flat. Leading with what we liked: Their mocktail offerings were good, promising a 0.0% ABV which is hard to come across when mocktails are offered. They serve oysters, which adds to that aphrodisiac experience of the oh so 'wow this is a former brothel!'. The bartenders and servers were fast and very sociable with the more sociable customers. The immediate entrance is very tight, and it was uncomfortable navigating the space. We expected there'd be more seating in the back, which there was, but it was limited and not offered to us until we asked for it. We honestly had no clue where it would be and only asked because of how this place was advertised. While it was comfy once we made our way back there, it was reminiscent of a lounge style bar space that almost any bar could replicate with the right room and budget. We didn't feel as though this hit the spot and were let down by this experience. I'm not sure if I can judge the menu of drinks/ foods as expensive, but we left hungry bc we couldn't justify some of the prices. In addition, I've seen a lot of complaints about the volume of the music: it's definitely loud at the front but a lot lower in that back lounge space. It's as loud as any bar's music level would be, but truth be told we were expecting music that matched the vibe of what was advertised and yes, at a lower volume.

    i love this bar!! it's not great for big groups, but perfect for a date night or group of 2-3…read moreit's a pretty small space favorite drink is the hokusai, i absolutely love it

    Photos
    Barely Disfigured - Back room

    Back room

    Barely Disfigured - Claws!

    Claws!

    Barely Disfigured - Hokusai

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    Hokusai

    Congress Bar - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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